Landman Season 2 Kicks Off: Premiere Buzz, Critics’ Take & Fan Reactions

Landman Season 2 premiered Sunday, November 16 on Paramount+, bringing Billy Bob Thornton’s grizzled oilman Tommy Norris back to our screens. The big question? Did Taylor Sheridan’s breakout hit strike gold twice?

Turns out, it’s messier than a blown oil well.

The Scorecard Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story

Let’s talk numbers first. Season 2 landed with an 83% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. That beats Season 1’s 78%. Progress, right?

Hold your horses.

Critics are split down the middle like a fractured oil field. Some see genuine improvement in character development. Others think the show’s spinning its wheels. And a few? They’re calling it straight-up garbage.

Remember, Season 1 pulled over 35 million viewers for its premiere. That made it the most-watched global premiere in Paramount+ history. Those are numbers that demand respect. So Sheridan’s playing it safe with a formula that works.

Or does it?

“Death and a Sunset” Kicks Things Off

The premiere episode runs nearly an hour. It opens with Tommy navigating his new role as M-Tex Oil president. His old boss Monty died last season, remember? Now Tommy’s doing the corporate dance instead of his usual roughneck routine.

But here’s the twist. Instead of dusty oil rigs and sweaty workers, we get boardrooms and power lunches. The stakes stay sky-high, but the setting’s gone upscale.

And honestly? Some critics think that’s exactly the problem.

Demi Moore Finally Gets to Actually Act

Season 1 barely used Demi Moore. She had maybe two lines per episode. Fans noticed. Critics noticed. Apparently, Sheridan noticed too.

Because Season 2 hands her the keys to the kingdom.

Moore plays Cami Miller, the newly widowed oil baroness. She’s taking over her dead husband’s empire, and she’s not playing nice. At a corporate luncheon, after some younger women mock her age in the bathroom, Cami delivers a speech that’s pure fire.

The money line? “Enjoy your lunch. I paid for it with f—ing money.”

Brutal. Confident. Exactly what the show needed.

Critics agree Moore’s elevated role is Season 2’s biggest win. She brings gravitas and complexity to a character who could’ve been a throwaway. One reviewer noted she’s already delivering a strong performance. Another praised how Sheridan finally found compelling material for The Substance star.

And let’s be real. After her Oscar nomination this year, Paramount probably threw a dump truck of money at her to stick around.

Billy Bob Keeps Being Billy Bob

Thornton plays Tommy Norris with a permanent eye roll and world-weary drawl. He’s exasperated but somehow sweet. Tough at work, softer with family.

It’s a masterclass in understatement.

One critic called watching him effortless. Another said he anchors the entire show. He’s got that rare ability to make cynicism feel charming. When Tommy cracks wise about modern society over breakfast cornflakes, you believe every word.

The premiere opens with Tommy needing more cigarettes. Coffee won’t cut it on a Monday like this. That pretty much sums up where his head’s at.

Sam Elliott Joins the Party

Speaking of casting wins, Sam Elliott signed on as Tommy’s father. The man’s a legend. His presence alone elevates any project.

Thornton told reporters Elliott’s been a mentor and hero to him. They have a special real-life relationship that translates on screen. Elliott’s character, T.L., gets some genuinely moving scenes about time taking away the world’s beauty.

It’s the kind of poetic moment Sheridan does well when he’s not busy with explosions.

The Reviews Get Spicy

Now we get to the fun part. Because some critics absolutely torched this premiere.

Roger Ebert’s site called Landman “the dumbest fracking show on TV.” Harsh. They criticized the show for struggling to find new ground and veering into crazy directions. The reviewer compared Sheridan to Ryan Murphy but for straight audiences.

That’s… actually kind of hilarious?

Meanwhile, Cosmic Book News went scorched earth. They labeled the premiere a “garbage filler episode” that’s “a whole lot of nothing.” Their take? Season openers should grab you, not push you away. And this one pushed hard.

But then Esquire flipped the script entirely. They called it “Taylor Sheridan’s Best Premiere Yet.” FandomWire praised the “sharp, lively” storytelling with “messy hearts and chaotic humor.”

So which is it? Depends who you ask.

The Female Character Problem Won’t Die

Here’s where things get genuinely uncomfortable.

Multiple critics pointed out that Angela and Ainsley—Tommy’s ex-wife and daughter—have actually regressed since Season 1. There are period jokes that land with a thud. Angela throws plates in yet another dinner meltdown. Ainsley interviews for college and comes off completely clueless.

One reviewer noted the way these women are written remains “atrocious.” That’s strong language. But several others echoed the sentiment.

However, one critic from The Globe and Mail saw improvement in female character portrayal overall. So again, opinions clash.

The show clearly wants these characters to provide comic relief. Yet it often comes at their expense. That’s a tough line to walk, and Landman keeps tripping over it.

What Actually Happens (Spoiler-Free)

The bulk of the episode focuses on Cami’s corporate takeover. She’s hosting this power lunch with all the oil industry bigwigs. They’re sizing her up, wondering if she can handle a billion-dollar empire.

Spoiler: She can.

Tommy spends his time putting out fires and reassuring nervous investors. The change-in-control clauses are getting triggered. People want to renegotiate or bail entirely. But Tommy’s not having it.

Meanwhile, Tommy’s son Cooper strikes oil. Like, serious oil. We’re talking tens of millions in potential revenue. Of course, the trailer hints his funding came from sketchy sources. So that’s probably coming back to bite him.

The episode ends on a genuine emotional note. Tommy gets news his mother died. It’s understated but heavy. Sam Elliott’s character will presumably factor into that storyline moving forward.

The Structure Gets Interesting

Critics highlighted the episode’s nearly 17-minute cold open. That’s bold for television. It’s mostly set at this Fort Worth hotel during Cami’s luncheon. Lots of cowboy hats and power plays.

Billy Bob shines in these scenes. He’s verbally manhandling all the opportunists trying to exploit Monty’s death. It’s fun watching Tommy work in a suit instead of coveralls.

But some viewers might find it slow. There’s no big explosion like Season 1’s opener. No massive oil rig disaster. Just people talking in expensive restaurants.

One critic noted the premiere doesn’t have that jaw-dropping scene that signals what the season’s about. It’s more table-setting than fireworks.

Ten Episodes to Win You Over

Season 2 runs through January 18. That’s ten episodes total, dropping weekly on Sundays. The show has plenty of runway to either validate its approach or crash and burn.

The official logline promises secrets rising with the oil. Tommy’s breaking point might be closer than he realizes. Mounting pressure from M-Tex Oil, Cami, and his own family legacy. Because survival in West Texas isn’t noble—it’s brutal.

And something’s got to break.

Key Players Returning:

• Ali Larter as Angela
• Jacob Lofland as Cooper
• Michelle Randolph as Ainsley
• Andy Garcia as cartel boss Gallino
• Colm Feore promoted to series regular

That cartel storyline from Season 1 is still lurking. Some critics thought it was unnecessary then. We’ll see if Sheridan can make it work now.

The Tonal Whiplash Continues

Multiple reviewers mentioned the show’s wild tonal shifts. One minute you’re watching serious oil industry drama. The next, Ali Larter’s delivering a line about what God created certain body parts for.

It’s intentional camp meeting prestige television. Either you’re on board with that or you’re not.

The AV Club pointed out Sheridan keeps undercutting his best work with Yellowstone-style melodrama. Dead-end plotting, gratuitous moments that don’t serve the story. It’s frustrating because the core material is genuinely compelling.

When Landman focuses on the oil business and Tommy’s navigation of impossible situations, it sings. When it veers into family sitcom territory, things get dicey.

What Critics Actually Liked

Despite all the criticism, several elements earned genuine praise:

The episode’s opening 17 minutes demonstrate confident storytelling. Letting scenes breathe shows Sheridan knows his craft. That takes guts in an era of rapid-fire editing.

Demi Moore’s speech is universally celebrated. It’s a perfect character moment that establishes Cami as a legitimate power player.

Sam Elliott’s addition brings gravitas and emotional weight. His scenes about loss and time feel genuine.

The oil industry details remain fascinating. When the show digs into actual landman work and corporate maneuvering, it’s educational and entertaining.

Billy Bob Thornton continues delivering a nuanced performance. He makes cynicism feel earned rather than performative.

The “If It Ain’t Broke” Strategy

Tom’s Guide summed it up perfectly. Sheridan adopted an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality. Whether you loved, liked, or merely tolerated Season 1, it was massively popular.

So why change?

The premiere proves they’re not. This is what Landman is. For better or worse, you’re getting the same show with slightly higher production values and a bigger role for Demi Moore.

Some viewers will appreciate the consistency. Others will get restless. But Paramount’s banking on those 35 million viewers returning regardless.

Where This Leaves Us

TVBrittanyF offered maybe the most balanced take. The premiere doesn’t fully capitalize on Season 1’s success. Yet Landman remains must-watch television. The cast is phenomenal. The world is rich. The writing, when it clicks, really clicks.

One reviewer noted the show set foundations for a decent season. Translation? The premiere is setup, not payoff. That’s fine for episode one.

Several critics mentioned they’re curious where things go. The breadcrumbs are intriguing even if this particular hour didn’t blow minds.

The Oil Keeps Pumping

Look, Landman Season 2 isn’t going to convert haters. If you despised Season 1, nothing here will change your mind. The show doubles down on its formula while making modest improvements.

But if you enjoyed the first season? You’ll probably dig this. Moore gets better material. Elliott adds depth. The oil business remains compelling when the show focuses there.

Critics are split. Audiences will likely be too. That’s okay. Not everything needs universal acclaim to succeed.

The derricks are pumping. The drama’s flowing. And millions of viewers seem ready to watch Tommy Norris navigate another season of corporate chaos and family dysfunction.

Whether that’s your brand of crude is entirely up to you.